Home
Special Diet
Vegetarian
38 Vegetarian Entrees for the Grill

38 Vegetarian Entrees for the Grill

Updated June 20, 2011

Credit: Stephen Devries; Styling: Lynn Nesmith

No meat? No problem. Fire up the grill and make one of these grilled vegetarian dishes instead. Veggies and plant-based products like tofu pair perfectly with grilled food’s smokiness, as evidenced by all these meatless grilled options. Whether you’re grilling eggplant, tofu, a meatless pizza, skewers, or vegetable platters, these recipes are a guaranteed hit for vegetarians and omnivores alike.

Start Slideshow

1 of 38

Veggie Grilled Pizza

Credit: Romulo Yanes; Styling: Philippa Brathwaite

Veggie Grilled Pizza Recipe

Bring out the best in smoky grilled vegetables by pairing them with an unexpected flavor partner: fresh mint. This pizza, loaded with fresh summer veggies, earned outstanding reviews as a main dish. Cut the pie into smaller slices for appetizer portions.

2 of 38

Grilled Eggplant with Freekeh Pilaf

Credit: Tru Studio

Grilled Eggplant with Freekeh Pilaf Recipe

Pomegranate molasses brings tartness, and the feta adds a salty finish to this hearty side dish.

3 of 38

Grilled Halloumi Pitas

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Kevin Crafts

Grilled Halloumi Pitas Recipe

The saltiness of halloumi cheese is a good balance for the smoky-tasting grilled peppers in this pita sandwich. Be careful not to cut the cheese too thin, or it will be hard to work with on the grill

4 of 38

Grilled Tofu with Ratatouille Vegetables

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Cindy Barr

Grilled Tofu with Ratatouille Vegetables Recipe

Introduce tofu to the grill with this easy, veggie-heavy recipe. The tofu and veggies grill together, brushed evenly with a vibrant orange juice marinade, making the dish a breeze to prepare and a cinch to clean up after.

5 of 38

Grilled Farmers’ Market Sandwiches

Credit: John Autry; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Grilled Farmers’ Market Sandwiches Recipe

Are you ready for the best sandwich you’ve ever tasted? Celebrate the rich flavors of summer by stacking delicious ciabatta bread with hearty portions of grilled, zucchini, red onion, basil, eggplant, and tomato. Top with provolone and prepare for a feast.

6 of 38

Herbed Penne with Simple Grilled Vegetables

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Jan Gautro

Herbed Penne with Simple Grilled Vegetables Recipe

Leftover charred vegetables and fresh herbs create a simple and satisfying vegetarian entree. For a heartier version, stir in two cups chopped chicken.

7 of 38

Grilled Eggplant Provolone

Credit: James Baigrie

Grilled Eggplant Provolone Recipe

For an elegant alfresco dinner that’s still easy on the prep time, make a main dish featuring grilled eggplant topped with melted provolone cheese. Top with grilled salsa and pair with a small green salad for a pleasing summer dinner in about 30 minutes.

8 of 38

Grilled Vegetable Salad

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Jan Gautro

Grilled Vegetable Salad Recipe

Salads are always a hit in summer; they’re easy to make, full of fresh flavor, and don’t heat up the kitchen. Top your mixed salad greens with smoky grilled vegetables to add depth of flavor and a texture contrast for your palate. Top with a pistachio vinaigrette and crumbled goat cheese for extra richness.

9 of 38

Ginger-Sesame Grilled Tofu Steaks

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Ginger-Sesame Grilled Tofu Steaks Recipe

All you need to complete this meal is a side of steamed snow peas, sugar snap peas, or asparagus. Draining the tofu on paper towels helps it absorb more marinade and ensures maximum flavor when it hits the grill.

10 of 38

Grilled Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

Credit: Oxmoor House

Grilled Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms Recipe

Stuffed mushrooms are always a crowd pleaser. We suggest filling yours with a robust mixture of spinach, garlic, oregano, and Parmesan cheese and serving the caps with a small summer salad. Enjoy this dish outside while you savor the slow summer sunsets.

11 of 38

Grilled Eggplant and Tomato Sandwiches with Roquefort Dressing

Grilled Eggplant and Tomato Sandwiches with Roquefort Dressing Recipe

When grilled to perfection, eggplant peel is slightly crusty--a nice contrast to its tender, moist flesh. Roasted eggplant makes a hearty sandwich when combined with a coarse-textured bread, such as an Italian ciabatta or sourdough.

12 of 38

Grilled Vegetable Lasagna

Credit: Randy Mayor

Grilled Vegetable Lasagna Recipe

Grilling the vegetables deepens their flavors, which makes for a delicious vegetarian entrée. To speed preparation, use no-boil lasagna noodles; the baking time remains the same.

13 of 38

Overstuffed Grilled Vegetable-Feta Sandwiches

Credit: Oxmoor House

Overstuffed Grilled Vegetable-Feta Sandwiches Recipe

Sky-high sandwich stackers provide filling meals that are perfect for picnics or on-the-go summer outings. Grape tomatoes, red onion, and a mix of yellow squash and zucchini star in this easy recipe, which calls for time-saving ingredients including presliced veggies and bottled salad dressing.

14 of 38

Grilled Tomato-Peach Pizza

Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Grilled Tomato-Peach Pizza Recipe

Store-bought pizza dough speeds prep time on this easy summer dish. Pizza provides the perfect opportunity to use festive seasonal toppings. Try sliced peaches; the grill helps them release their natural sweetness, adding a fun zip to the pie. If you haven’t tried fresh-from-the-grill pizza before, prepare to be wowed.

15 of 38

Mediterranean Grilled Vegetable Tagine

Credit: Karry Hosford

Mediterranean Grilled Vegetable Tagine Recipe

Grilled bell peppers and red onion get a hearty flavor infusion from a short stint in a vinegar-and-olive-oil marinade before hitting the grill for a quick roast. The grilled veggies, served over couscous, add smoky flavor to this Mediterranean-inspired main dish meal.

16 of 38

Grilled Eggplant Naan Wraps with Tahini-Yogurt Dressing

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Kevin Crafts

Grilled Eggplant Naan Wraps with Tahini-Yogurt Dressing Recipe

A delicious way to complement the rich flavor of grilled eggplant is by adding a tangy tahini-yogurt sauce. Tahini, sesame paste, adds a Asian-inspired flavor and transports this easy dinner dish to a delightfully tasty status.

17 of 38

Grilled Vegetables with Yogurt-Tahini Sauce

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Kellie Gerber Kelley

Grilled Vegetables with Yogurt-Tahini Sauce Recipe

Serve a pick-up style dinner by loading a pretty party platter with freshly grilled summer veggies such as tomatoes, button mushrooms, radicchio, and eggplant. Pair with a tangy dipping sauce and let guests help themselves to this meatless main.

18 of 38

Vietnamese Lettuce Rolls with Spicy Grilled Tofu

Credit: Photography: Becky-Stayner; Styling: Melanie J. Clarke

Vietnamese Lettuce Rolls with Spicy Grilled Tofu Recipe

Bring Asian-inspired flavor to the table. Grilled firm tofu adds robust flavor to crisp lettuce wraps. Let the kids know they’ll be eating “lettuce tacos” tonight; they'll be thrilled!

19 of 38

Grilled Vegetables with Potato Cakes

Credit: Oxmoor House

Grilled Vegetables with Potato Cakes Recipe

Serve a stacker of a main dish by loading homemade potato cakes with smoky grilled vegetables. Use a jarred fire-roasted tomato and garlic pasta sauce to save time and add rich flavor.

20 of 38

Grilled Polenta with Tomatoes and White Beans

Credit: Oxmoor House

Grilled Polenta with Tomatoes and White Beans Recipe

Nothing beats the smoky flavor from the grill, especially when you’re bringing out the rich flavor of polenta. The grilled polenta adds depth to an easy summer salad, prepared with cannellini beans and chopped fresh rosemary.

21 of 38

Grilled Pizza with Smoked Tofu and Roasted Red Peppers

Credit: Photography: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lydia DeGaris-Pursell

Grilled Pizza with Smoked Tofu and Roasted Red Peppers Recipe

With its firm texture, smoked tofu shreds easily and replaces some of the cheese that traditionally tops pizza.

22 of 38

Grilled Tofu with Peanut Sauce

Credit: Antonis Achilleos, Food Styling: Margaret Dickey, Prop Styling: Missie Crawford

Grilled Tofu with Peanut Sauce Recipe

This grilled tofu is super tasty and would satisfy vegetarians and meat eaters alike. Grilling tofu gives the exterior a nice char without altering the taste, while the sauce boasts some seriously good flavor. Dusting on a little brown sugar gives the perfect amount of sweetness. The peanut sauce can be made ahead of time and keeps in the fridge for a week.

23 of 38

Grilled Eggplant and Purple Cauliflower Caponata

Grilled Eggplant and Purple Cauliflower Caponata Recipe

Purple cauliflower is becoming more widely available at farmers markets; white cauliflower would also be delicious here.

24 of 38

Monday Night Grilled Vegetable Platter

Monday Night Grilled Vegetable Platter Recipe

This dish is an easy way to jump-start the week--and cook outside on a summer night. Prep everything the night before to make it come together even more quickly, and serve with warm, crusty bread. This also makes a great communal first course for a party.

Wine pairing: Wente 2015 Eric's Small Lot Unbaked Chardonnay (Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay; $30)

25 of 38

Grilled Corn Pasta Salad

Credit: Photo courtesy of The Food Gays

Grilled Corn Pasta Salad Recipe

This vibrant, flavor-packed summer side dish combines a bounty of favorite seasonal flavors into a single, epic pasta salad. The recipe comes from our friends The Food Gays, and they developed this colorful grilled corn dish as a fresher, brighter alternative to the typical mayo-based pasta salads that often show up a summer parties. Packed with fresh produce and dressed in a light and zippy lemon-mustard vinaigrette, this grilled corn pasta salad is anything but boring. Give it a try at your next summer cookout and enjoy as the compliments pour in.

26 of 38

Mediterranean Grilled Pizza

Mediterranean Grilled Pizza Recipe

27 of 38

Grilled Tomato, Onion, and Olive Salad

Credit: Photography: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Anna Hampton; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Grilled Tomato, Onion, and Olive Salad Recipe

28 of 38

Grilled Lemon-Basil Tofu Burgers

Credit: Oxmoor House

Grilled Lemon-Basil Tofu Burgers Recipe

Marinated tofu slices acquire a golden crust when grilled; the olive-garlic mayonnaise on the sandwich adds a Mediterranean flavor. Serve with grilled asparagus.

29 of 38

Grilled Four-Onion Pizzas

Credit: Greg Dupree; Styling: Audrey Davis

Grilled Four-Onion Pizzas Recipe

This pizza showcases the best of the allium family--from the sharp top notes of fresh chives to the deep flavors of sautéed leeks.

Wine pairing: Priest Ranch 2015 Grenache Blanc (Napa Valley; $22).

30 of 38

Grilled Cabbage Salad

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Grilled Cabbage Salad Recipe

When chopped cabbage meets grill, a beautiful thing happens. Once you fire this simple summer side, you'll start to wonder what other fresh veggies you can toss on the barbecue for your next cookout.

31 of 38

Ultimate Grilled Tomato Sandwiches

Credit: Kelsey Hansen; Food Styling Karen Ranken; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Ultimate Grilled Tomato Sandwiches Recipe

Toasty bread, juicy tomatoes, melty cheese, and smoky bacon—what’s not to love? These decadent grilled sandwiches are the perfect place to put your ripe summer tomatoes, and pair beautifully with a light, refreshing summer soup. While you could certainly prepare them in a skillet on the stove, going to the grill takes these superb summer sandwiches to the next level.

32 of 38

Grilled Ratatouille Skewers

Grilled Ratatouille Skewers Recipe

33 of 38

Grill-Smoked Baba Ghanoush

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Grill-Smoked Baba Ghanoush Recipe

34 of 38

Grilled Tofu With Spicy Peanut Sauce

Credit: Greg Dupree; Styling: Ginny Branch

Grilled Tofu With Spicy Peanut Sauce Recipe

This grilled tofu dish gets its spicy notes from fresno chiles and also gets a smokey tang from the grill. A key to flavorful tofu is in the sauces and seasonings used, and this spicy peanut sauce pairs exceptionally well here.

35 of 38

Grilled Eggplant-and-Corn Romesco Napoleons

Credit: Cedric Angeles; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Grilled Eggplant-and-Corn Romesco Napoleons Recipe

Eggplant is an incredibly versatile vegetable and a good choice for

Account

38 Vegetarian Entrees for the Grill

1 of 38

Veggie Grilled Pizza

1 of 38

2 of 38

Grilled Eggplant with Freekeh Pilaf

2 of 38

3 of 38

Grilled Halloumi Pitas

3 of 38

4 of 38

Grilled Tofu with Ratatouille Vegetables

4 of 38

5 of 38

Grilled Farmers’ Market Sandwiches

5 of 38

6 of 38

Herbed Penne with Simple Grilled Vegetables

6 of 38

7 of 38

Grilled Eggplant Provolone

7 of 38

8 of 38

Grilled Vegetable Salad

8 of 38

9 of 38

Ginger-Sesame Grilled Tofu Steaks

9 of 38

10 of 38

Grilled Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

10 of 38

11 of 38

Grilled Eggplant and Tomato Sandwiches with Roquefort Dressing

11 of 38

12 of 38

Grilled Vegetable Lasagna

12 of 38

13 of 38

Overstuffed Grilled Vegetable-Feta Sandwiches

13 of 38

14 of 38

Grilled Tomato-Peach Pizza

14 of 38

15 of 38

Mediterranean Grilled Vegetable Tagine

15 of 38

16 of 38

Grilled Eggplant Naan Wraps with Tahini-Yogurt Dressing

16 of 38

17 of 38

Grilled Vegetables with Yogurt-Tahini Sauce

17 of 38

18 of 38

Vietnamese Lettuce Rolls with Spicy Grilled Tofu

18 of 38

19 of 38

Grilled Vegetables with Potato Cakes

19 of 38

20 of 38

Grilled Polenta with Tomatoes and White Beans

20 of 38

21 of 38

Grilled Pizza with Smoked Tofu and Roasted Red Peppers

21 of 38

22 of 38

Grilled Tofu with Peanut Sauce

22 of 38

23 of 38

Grilled Eggplant and Purple Cauliflower Caponata

23 of 38

24 of 38

Monday Night Grilled Vegetable Platter

24 of 38

25 of 38

Grilled Corn Pasta Salad

25 of 38

26 of 38

Mediterranean Grilled Pizza

26 of 38